Fatal Factory Fire Sparks $281K Penalty
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 | 0
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a cosmetics manufacturer in New Windsor, New York, after a November fire killed a worker.
Verla International Ltd. was issued citations on May 7 for 11 safety violations. The company faces proposed fines of $281,220.
A 57-year-old Newburgh man was killed and 125 people were injured after two explosions and a fire tore through Verla’s facility on Nov. 20, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported. County fire officials said the blaze began when static electricity ignited a flammable liquid during the manufacturing process.
An OSHA investigation found that the company failed to protect its employees from dangerous chemicals. The agency alleges that Verla exposed workers to fall and compressed-air hazards. The company also failed to ensure proper electrical grounding and bonding to prevent flammable vapors from igniting, OSHA said, and it didn’t properly dispose of flammable materials.
In addition, Verla allegedly failed to develop and implement an emergency response plan; provide employees with first responder awareness level training; and record a workplace fatality in its OSHA 300 illness and injury log.
The company has 15 business days to contest the citations.
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